Nation Shocked by Celebrities’ Secret Lives

It’s South Korea’s biggest story of the week, maybe of the year. Well, it’s definitely all that anyone is talking about today and it all boils down to this: How did two of the nation’s biggest celebrities keep their marriage and divorce secret from prying public eyes for almost 15 years?

courtesy Seo Tae-ji website

Seo Tae-ji

The news, broken by a sports newspaper on Thursday, is that TV actress E Ji-ah and the iconic pop star Seo Tae-ji had been married for almost ten years, divorced for nearly five and are now wrangling over a financial settlement. Ms. E is seeking 5.5 billion won, or about $5 million.

Incredible. Huge stars. Secret marriage. Divorce. Disloyalty. Money.

Advertisement

After the news broke, Ms. E’s management agency – Keyeast, owned by superstar actor Bae Yong-joon — issued a statement from her in which she expressed fondness for Mr. Seo and sought forgiveness from the public.

“Since I made a début, I have had no choice but to conceal my past, because the other side was a very famous person,” Ms. E said in the statement. “I feel really sorry about that (covering up). I wanted to work things out smoothly with him whom I dearly loved even though I was very young, but it didn’t turn out as I wanted. I am having a hard time for myself.”

According to the statement, they got married in 1997 soon after Mr. Seo suddenly disbanded his rock group, Seo Taeji and Boys, and moved to U.S. In 2006, she filed for divorce, citing “unusual jobs and lifestyle” of her husband and “difference of character.”

Seo Taeji and Boys caused a great sensation when it came out in 1991, with its western-style rap songs and unique rebellious lyrics that confronted the society’s establishment and hierarchical system. His experiments combining traditional Korean music and Western rock ballads won acclaim from music critics.

courtesy Seo Tae-ji website

Seo Taeji and Boys

But in January 1996 the band shocked its fans and industry watchers alike with its sudden announcement to disband. In the tearful press conference, Mr. Seo said in a trembling voice “I confess to you that the creative work of making a new song was the continuation of pain like cutting out my flesh and trimming off my bone … I wanted to be always new and perfect.”

Ever since the high-profile press event, he has remained largely out of public view, though his music is still popular. He moved back to South Korea in 2000 and is now 39 years old. Local newspapers reported Friday that Mr. Seo told some friends, “I am doing well.”

For years, Ms. E has been considered in many ways mysterious – now quite understandable — and been called an “alien” in the media. Basic information about her such as age was shrouded in mystery. She is believed to be in her early 30s, meaning she likely married Mr. Seo as a teenager.

Several years ago, rumors swirled that she was in love with Bae Yong-joon, who is the country’s biggest superstar. Recently, another top actor Jung Woo-sung confirmed that he and Ms. E are dating.